Ein patriotischer Akt ("A Patriotic Act")

[Vernunft II]

Interesting story about how the Patriot Act works. Pretty scary read.

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,289472,00.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. And let's remember

that the Germans know what it is like to live in a facist state! Vielen Dank!

[gandalf]

2. Very detailed and enlightening article

How Jesselyn Radack's reputation is destroyed reminds me of the movie Enemy of the State.

Cases like this one create a strong effect of self-censorship in all people in the administration, federal agencies and newspapers who like to keep their job.

If one assumes MIHOP as an explanation of 9/11, it shows that the counter-argument "too many people would have known, too many people could become whistle-blowers in such a conspiracy" is not a strong argument.

Hätte ich im Spiegel kaum erwartet, diesen Artikel...

[Hav]

3. .

In short,it's about how Jesselyn Radack's almost perfect life got destroyed when she got involved and dared to speak out about the case of John Walker Lindh as she made public that Lindh did not get treated according to American Law and that he got questioned without a lawyer and so on.
It's also about how every charge against her never needed any prove. It was only about charging her with something and putting pressure on firms where she was employed that led to her losing that job.Special Agents phoned her employees and told her bosses and pretty much everybody in that firm that there is a criminal investigation against her etc .

Ted Kennedy supported and tried to help her.
Now she changed from Republican to being a registered Democrat but it's almost impossible for her to find a job although her former career indicates that she was more than capable. Obviously no one wants to have trouble with the Government.

[gula]

4. Wow. Has this ever appeared in the US media?

"Justizminister John Ashcroft, der sich gelegentlich mit Jesus Christus vergleicht." I thought that was Bush?

"Recht hat nicht mit Vergebung zu tun", sagte Ashcroft kurz nach seinem Amtsantritt. "Es hat oft mit Vergeltung zu tun und oft sogar mit Rache." How come I never see the word justice mentionned?

I see the witchhunt has started. Scary to say the least.

[seabeyond]

5. patriot act

is my greatest evil in this administration with what you all say. the control over people and taking rights and i am not hearing much yelling, too many sheep. i was not satisfied at all with what kerry said, wasnt decisive or articulate, in what he wants to do with act and where he sees issue. he needs to be more focused. and not just on what we are doing to all middle east, or middle east looking people, i didnt hear him talk at all about what it is doing to 42 year old white womans rights, wink, here in this country.

i would like to hear more from kerry, only have heard him once on this. doesnt mean that is all he has talked with it though

[Vernunft II]

7. The patriot act is the US equivalent to the laws the Nazis made after

the burning of the Reichstag.

It´s a step by step erosion of civil rights and just like the people of Germany (who are very sensible NOW through experience) the US people say "Oh, this will never happen here, it´ll blow over" until it is too late.

History repeats itself.

[gandalf]

6. This deserves...

a :kick: (even though I normally do not like the Spiegel).

[Vernunft II]

8. I´m very critical to the SPIEGEL too.

One always needs several news sources and the truth is somewhere in the middle.

[ConsAreLiars]

9. the truth is rarely in the middle.

Yes, as many sources as possible are needed. Each only paints a partial (and usually partisan) point of view, but the great majority are shaped by the socially dominant framework. Averaging the reporting on the PNAC cabal won't get you anywhere close to the truth.

[Vernunft II]

10. If your news sources are diverse enough

the truth IS in the middle. And there´s no news outlet anywhere who´s news I´d take at face value.